A Bibliometric Analysis of Digital and the Halal Industry

A Bibliometric Analysis of Digital and the Halal Industry

Nabilah Wafa Mohd Najib¹*, Siti Khalilah Basarud-din², Nurul Khofifah Abdullah³, Farahdina Fazial⁴, Nik Safiah Nik Abdullah⁵, Khairul Hafezad Abdullah⁶

¹²³Faculty of Muamalat & Islamic Finance, Kolej University Islam Perlis, Malaysia

⁴Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies, University Technology MARA Cawangan Kedah, Malaysia

⁵Islamic Business School, College of Business, University Utara Malaysia, Malaysia

⁶School of Business Management, College of Business, University Utara Malaysia, Malaysia

Corresponding Author*

DOI : https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.8110244

Received: 14 November 2024; Accepted: 22 November 2024; Published: 21 December 2024

ABSTRACT

The rapid advancement of digital technologies has significantly impacted various industries worldwide, including the Halal industry, which encompasses sectors such as food, finance, tourism, logistic and cosmetics. This paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric review of the existing literature on digital transformation within the Halal industry. This study aims to identify the core areas of focus and emerging themes in the integration of digital innovations such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and e-commerce platforms into Halal processes and products. The review is based on data from Scopus and Web of Science, spanning studies published in year 2005 until 2024. ScientoPy has been used to clarify the output and gain information regarding the evolution of publications, productive countries, most frequently explored themes and most cited publications. The findings reveal a growing body of research highlighting the importance of digital tools for the industry’s adaptation to global Halal market demands particularly in Muslim-majority countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. There is a consistent increase in publications related to the digital and Halal industry since 2015, with a notable surge after 2021, indicating the growing interest in this area of study. Additionally, the review discusses gaps in the current literature and suggests future research directions to address important areas such as AI-driven halal verification, regulatory frameworks for halal practices and ethical implications of digital innovations within the Halal context. This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of how digital transformation is reshaping the Halal industry and thus helps in providing valuable insights for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.

Keywords: Halal, digital, bibliometric, Scopus, Web of Science

INTRODUCTION

The intersection of digital transformation and the halal industry has attracted substantial attention in recent years due to rising adoption of technology like IoT, blockchain, AI and e-commerce. These innovations are key to address challenges in Halal sector by improving traceability, transparency and trust of customer in the certification and distribution of Halal products (Ali et al., 2021). Bux et al. (2022) stated an example, blockchain enables a decentralized approach to track products from their source to the customer, which can reinforce trust and authenticity in the Halal supply chain-critical for food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and other certified products. Yener (2022) highlighted in the study, this transformation is aligning with the global movement for a more transparent and ethical sourcing that can satisfy the demand of consumers on the compliance to halal verification. Digitization of the Halal industry is not just an operational transformation but a strategic evolution with major consequences for Muslim-majority countries and regions. In countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, where demand for Halal products and services is increasing rapidly, the government has been actively supporting the industry’s digital innovation to increase its market competitiveness and assure adhesion to religious mandates (Yuleva Cuchulain, 2021). The Halal certification in Malaysia, under the purview of JAKIM, is recognized worldwide. With the help of digital technologies, Malaysia will indeed become the leader in Halal compliance and innovation (Halal Development Corporation, 2023). Malaysia and Indonesia have been cited as two major leaders in Halal-related studies, but Malaysia is focusing on embedding blockchain technology into the Halal certification process (Karyani et al., 2024).

Research has demonstrated that digital technologies can significantly enhance compliance and operational efficiency in many of the Halal industries. For instance, AI and machine-learning algorithms automate compliance assessments and improve supply chain management, while IoT technologies enable real-time monitoring of production and logistics (Taj et al., 2023). This breakthrough is particularly relevant for the food and logistic industries, where the authenticity and integrity of products need to be assured. Research carried out by Ali et al. (2021) and Rejeb et al. (2021) underlined that technologies like blockchain and IoT can increase the reliability of Halal certification, traceability, and reduce risks of contamination—an issue in most food supply chains that has been continuing for a long time. These digital technologies, however, have several challenges. It is a big concern that the consistency of Halal regulations is lacking worldwide because most countries have different certification requirements, hence slowing down international trade and digital harmonization (Yan & Liu 2024). While blockchain technology introduces the potential for standardized documentation, achieving global interoperability is challenging specifically in domains as diverse as Halal, where cultural and religious contexts impact the regulatory framework (Nkama, 2022). The cost of adopting and deploying new digital technologies could limit their access in developing areas, where resources are often scarce (Mhlongo et al., 2022).

The bibliometric analysis is a tool in the evaluation of the current research trends and identification of seminal publications in exploring theme developments in the context of digital integration within the Halal industry to highlight its promise and problems. A bibliometric technique systematically analyses scientific literature, providing quantitative insights into significant research domains and themes, hence identifying gaps and future research trajectories (Abdullah, 2023). By conducting a study based on the overall bibliographic databases such as Scopus and Web of Science, researchers are able to outline the scientific landscape of digital Halal business, thereby bringing to light prominent authors, central topics, and prolific domains in this sector. This bibliometric study aims to document the development of research in the digital Halal sector by analysing key publications, leading countries, and predominant research issues. It will particularly answer questions regarding publication trends, the most prolific countries in this respect, and the most-cited works to set a foundation for future trajectories in research. The purpose of this report is to help decision-makers, practitioners, and scholars identify areas of digital innovation that can be improved for better Halal certification, compliance, and consumer trust. The research questions of this study are as follows:

a. What is the evolution of publications on digital and halal industry?

b. Which countries are the most active in publishing research on the intersection of digital and halal industry?

c. What are the most frequently explored digital and halal industry research themes?

d. What are the top ten most cited digital and halal industry publications?

METHODOLOGY

Bibliometric Analysis Approach and Selection Criteria

Donath et al. (2021) mentioned that bibliometric analysis is a quantitative research method for analysing patterns and trends in scientific publications. Besides, Abdullah (2022) stated that this approach provides valuable insight into a specific research domain, which can allow a detailed assessment of the existing literature and its evolution over time. Also, Mohd Sofian et al. (2023) adds that bibliometric analysis can supports academicians and policymakers to shape future research directions and funding priorities. This can be done by examining major themes, leading authors as well as a collaborative network.

This bibliometric analysis employed the Scopus and Web of Science (Woos) databases, with datasets obtained on 10th September 2024. A search strategy was carried out to explore the association between the digital and halal industry. These databases were selected for their wide coverage, strict quality control measures, and reliable citation analysis features (Abdullah, 2023). This will provide an access to broad range of scholarly literature for comprehensive analyses and the identification of key articles and authors (Duran-Sanchez et al., 2020). Additionally, Abdullah (2021) emphasized that their citation analysis capabilities support the examination of citation trends, impact metrics and identification of foundational publications within the field.

The search parameters in this study covered: (“digital” OR “virtual” OR “technology”) AND (“halal industry” OR “halal foods” OR “halal tourism” OR “halal logistics”). This search was performed using the Title, Abstracts as well as Keywords. Integrating lexically interchangeable expressions widens the exploration of scholarly literature related to the topic, which can spur the academic interest and encourage a deeper engagement from researchers. Abdullah et al. (2023) added it also enhanced a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter and enriching academic discourse. Besides, this search encompasses literature that enables a thorough analysis of literature globally (Abd Aziz et al., 2022).

Datasets that related to digital and halal industry were derived from Scopus and Web of Science (Woos) and analysed using ScientoPy software. This study examined datasets from year 2005 to 2024. ScientoPy is a widely recognized Python-based software tool, that highly suitable for bibliometric analyses (Abdullah, 2023). The main purpose of this analysis is to thoroughly assess global scientific output and thematic developments in the literature on digital and halal industry as documented in Scopus and Woos.

RESULTS

This section will reveal the complete analysis of bibliometric datasets which regards to digital and halal industry along with the research questions 1 to 4. In addition, Abdullah & Abd Aziz (2021) mentioned that a bibliometric analysis with a clear research objective is important to maintain the focus of study, relevancy and capability to produce significant findings.

Publication Overview

This study offers a comprehensive overview of the publication process by integrating datasets from the Scopus and Web of Science (Woos) databases. Duplicate records were removed using ScientoPy software, a tool specifically designed for this task. Ruiz-Rosero et al. (2019) stated that ScientoPy consolidates Scopus and Woos datasets by matching field tags in a correlation table and identifies and removes duplicate documents. Initially, the combined datasets comprised 327 publications. Then, after applying inclusion criteria that focused on document types such as articles, proceedings, reviews, conference papers, and book chapters, 275 publications were selected for analysis. Specifically, 176 publications were from Scopus and 99 from Woos. The duplicate removal process resulted in a final dataset of 232 records, with 134 from Scopus and 98 from Woos. Consequently, 43 duplicate papers were excluded from the analysis. The structure of the database and registry searches conducted in this study is illustrated in Figure 1, following the steps proposed by Page et al. (2021).

Figure 1: Flow of diagram of searches of database and registers

The Evolution of Publications

The data in Figure 2 demonstrate the number of papers in both Scopus and Woos databases from 2005 to 2024. Figure 2 shows that in early period from 2005-2014, both Scopus and Woos show relatively low and stable levels of publications during this period. However, Scopus exhibits a slight increase in documents starting around 2010, while Woos remains flat until 2014, implying that Scopus has been utilised more extensively for academic publishing and encompasses a broader range of research articles.

A notable rise in publications is observed in both databases from 2015 onwards. Scopus sees a steeper increase, reflecting a higher volume of published documents compared to Woos. Moreover, by 2018, the gap between Scopus and Woos becomes more evident, with Scopus consistently producing more publications each year. This trend in Scopus publications suggest a growing interest in publishing research on digital and halal industry covered by Scopus.

Interestingly, both Scopus and Woos experience a sharp surge in the number of publications starting around 2021. The number of documents published in Scopus peaks at around 20 publications in certain years, while Woos shows a similar trend but with slightly fewer publications. This may be indicating that more research on digital and halal industry has been conducted since there are rapid advancement and adoption of digital technologies including blockchain, artificial intelligence on Halal Industry in recent years. In brief, the publication trends for both databases fluctuate more in recent years, but Scopus continues to lead in overall volume of publications.

Figure 2: Publication growth

Source: Conducted using ScientoPy software

Productive Countries

Figure 3 illustrates the ranking of the top ten countries that have made significant contributions to research at the intersection of digital and halal industry. Notably, Indonesia emerged as the most active country in this area, followed closely by Malaysia and then United Kingdom. These rankings reflect the robust research infrastructure and funding available in these nations, which support extensive exploration and innovation in this critical field. In addition, the presence of several prominent institutions and leading researchers further underscores their leadership in advancing studies on digital and halal industry.

Besides, Indonesia and Malaysia become two most countries that significantly contributed to research on digital and halal industry might be due to large Muslim populations. This large Muslim consumer base creates a strong domestic demand for halal products and services, and thus encouraging the growth of halal industry in both countries.

Figure 3: Productive countries

Source: Conducted using ScientoPy software

The Most Frequently Explored Themes

This study explores the top ten most used keywords in research related to digital and halal industry. These key themes were identified through a thorough analysis of keywords from previous research publications in the field. This analysis is important as it helps researchers recognize current trends and focus areas on the field. The insights gained can guide the design of future studies and highlight gaps in the existing literature. As shown in Figure 4, the top ten keywords, ranked by the number of publications, are “halal tourism,” “halal food,” “halal industry,” “halal,” “blockchain,” “halal logistics,” “halal certification,” “halal supply chain,” “Malaysia,” and “food.” Notably, the four most popular keywords in 2023 and 2024, each with a PDLY of over 40%, are “halal tourism” (64.3%), “halal industry” (40.9%), “blockchain” (41.2%), and “Malaysia” (60%). This suggests that these terms represent the most relevant research areas in digital and halal industry for 2023 and 2024, reflecting a strong interest in the research areas.

The figure overall suggests increasing diversification of research topics within the halal industry, implying emerging trends in tourism, technology integration (blockchain) and regional focus that is Malaysia.

Figure 4: The top ten authors’ keywords

Source: Conducted using ScientoPy software

Top Ten Highly Cited Publications

Table 1 presents the ten most highly cited research papers on digital and halal industry. In a bibliometric analysis, these top-cited publications reflect the most impactful works within the field. These publications are often foundational studies that have significantly contributed to advancing knowledge and have been widely referenced by subsequent research (Sofyan et al., 2022). Therefore, analysing these top-cited publications can provide a deeper insight into major developments, dominant theories and crucial milestones in the research area.

Table 1: Top ten highly cited publications

Source: Conducted using ScientoPy software

DISCUSSION

This indeed is a bibliometric analysis that does provide valuable insights on the digital transformation taking place in the Halal industry. It has been highlighted how critical digital technologies are in addressing some of the grand challenges related to halal compliance, traceability, and supply chain efficiency by using blockchain, AI, and IoT. It identifies the Halal industry, covering business sectors such as food, finance, tourism, logistics, and cosmetics, as one of the fastest-growing sectors globally amid growing consumer demand for transparency and authenticity. Technology has played a very vital role in the adaptation of the Halal industry to international market requirements, particularly for major Muslim countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, which are key contributors to research in this area.

Results can be seen in the progressive increase in publications since 2015, with a marked increase after 2021, showing growing scientific and industrial interest. This can only augur well with increasing speed in adopting new technology within the Halal industry, driven by consumer expectations for verifiable Halal certification and regulatory demands. Applications in blockchain have especially been of high consideration to assurance in authenticity and contamination risks of supply chains in various industries, most common in the food and logistics sectors. The use of AI and IoT is also expected to bring enhancement in real-time monitoring, automation of compliance processes, raising operational efficiency, and strengthening consumer trust.

One of the major findings, however, is the variation in global Halal standards, one of the most crucial barriers to the cross-border digital standardization of regions. The lack of a well-established certification protocol complicates the setting up of systems for interoperability, which may hamper the full realization of potential in digital transformation. Besides, resource constraints also impede access to leading-edge technology in some developing regions, posing one big challenge for industry-wide integration of digitalization. The existing gap would, therefore, need future studies on cost-effective solutions and region-specific strategies to enable the wider adoption of digital tools in the Halal industry. The identified themes of research, including Halal tourism, logistics, and blockchain, reflect the increasing diversity in the area of digital Halal research. This growth demonstrates new tendencies of tourism and technology integration, mostly in countries with great Muslim population values. Future research therefore should focus on how the challenges of standardization may be overcome and scalable digital solutions identified that can be adopted across many economic contexts to provide support for sustainable industrial growth. It hence gives a basic understanding that will guide policies, research initiatives, and industry practices towards continued development of the Halal industry in the digital era.

CONTRIBUTION AND LIMITATIONS

This bibliometric analysis of digital and the halal industry provides several valuable contributions to researchers, academicians as well as practitioners. By conducting this bibliometric analysis, it can map the research trends. The analysis shows the growth and evolution of research on digitalization in the halal industry which can helps future researchers to understand popular topics, emerging trends and research gaps. Based on trends and gaps identified, the analysis serves as a roadmap for researchers to pursue new areas, like improving traceability and transparency in the certification and distribution of Halal products and providing cost-effective solutions and region-specific strategies to enable the wider adoption of digital tools in the Halal industry. In sum, a bibliometric analysis in this study not only broadens the academic understanding of digitalization in the halal industry but also provides actionable insights to improve the industry standards and foster the innovation within the halal industry.

Nonetheless, there are some limitations of this study like a database scope. This bibliometric analysis is limited to database from Scopus and Web of Science which may not fully capture relevant articles, where studies may be published in local journal which are not indexed by these databases. Besides, there might be a limitation in terms of language and regional bias as many databases primarily index English-language publications which can lead to underrepresentation of research published in languages, particularly from countries with significant contributions to halal research. Lastly, the limitation of this study may be caused by time lag in research updates. The bibliometric data may not immediately reflect the latest research development due to publication process timeline. As digital and halal industry rapidly evolve, there may be a lag in the representation of recent advancements and trends.

CONCLUSION

The incorporation of digitalization in halal industry led to a great transformation that can enhance the traceability, transparency and market accessibility. The use of technology like blockchain, IoT and AI indeed play a huge role in facilitating halal certification processes which can ensuring the integrity of supply chains and boost the global markets. Digital platforms and e-commerce have empowered conscientious halal consumers, widening the access to reliable information as well as boosting the growth of a diverse and competitive halal market.

The findings of the study do indicate that digital tools have been crucial in helping the halal industry to meet international market demands, particularly in Muslim-majority countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. Additionally, the result from this study also reveals there has been a steady rise in publications on regards to digital and halal industry since 2015, with a notable increase after 2021, reflecting a surge of interest in this area of study. Despite the progress, the analysis reveals certain limitations, including the need for a standardized framework for digital Halal certification and more empirical research on consumer behaviour in digital halal spaces.

Future research therefore should focus on filling these gaps, especially in areas like AI-driven Halal verification, regulatory frameworks for halal practices and ethical implications of digital innovations within the Halal context. Addressing these areas is essential to unlock the full potential of digitalization and promote sustainable ethical growth in the worldwide halal economy.

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